Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Counting on a Cowboy is the second book in Debra Clopton's A Four of Hearts Ranch Romance series. After reading the first book in the series (Betting on Hope) earlier this year I was anxiously awaiting Bo's story and now I find myself looking forward to the next book and Jarrod's story! Having already fallen in love with the small town of Wishing Springs, TX, and the unique personalities of each of its residents this book felt familiar and sometimes that's good to read something that takes you back to a place you know even if it's only a place you know within your imagination. I honestly thought the aspect with Bo unexpectedly becoming a single dad would be my least favorite part of the story but it turns out I was wrong. Little Levi tugged at my heart strings right along with Bo and Abby. From the start I wanted Abby to find the "Mayberry" she was looking for and simply to live happily ever after. Now you'll just have to read the book to find out what actually happens with Bo, Abby, and little Levi!

Book info

About the book:Counting on a Cowboy (Thomas Nelson, August 2015)

After
losing everything she held dear, Abby never wants to love again. But a
certain cowboy may just spur her to wonder if love might be worth the
risk.

Running from a past that haunts her, Abby Knightly is drawn
to the cozy town of Wishing Springs, Texas. Maybe this small town could
offer hope and healing and a future for Abby . . . if she's brave
enough to reach out and take it by the reins.

Bo Monahan isn't
interested in the new romantic destination his little town has
become---or the women who might be looking at him like he's their next
Mr. Right. Between taking care of his Pops and his growing stirrup
business, he isn't looking for serious romantic commitments. But when
the infant son he never knew about shows up at his doorstep, his world
is turned upside down.

This confirmed bachelor might not think he
needs a wife, but he sure needs help. Even Abby can see that, and
despite her best efforts to keep her distance, she can't help but be
drawn to this new father-son duo. As Abby throws herself into helping Bo
navigate fatherhood, hope sparks between them, revealing that maybe,
just maybe, they can navigate their dark pasts and emerge together into a
future as bright as the Texas sun itself.

Debra Clopton is
a multi-award winning novelist and has written more than 22 novels.
Along with writing, Debra helps her husband teach the youth at their
local Cowboy Church. Debra's goal is to shine a light toward God while
she entertains readers with her words.Find Debra online: website, Facebook, Twitter

A new tale of romance, family, and taking risks—don't miss Debra Clopton's Counting on a Cowboy! After losing everything she held dear, Abby never wants to love again. But a certain cowboy may just spur her to wonder if love might be worth the risk. As Abby throws herself into helping Bo navigate fatherhood, hope sparks between them, revealing that maybe, just maybe, they can navigate their dark pasts and emerge together into a future as bright as the Texas sun itself.

Saddle up with Debra and her new book and enter to win her Love at the Reins prize pack!

Friday, August 21, 2015

If you are a book lover like me and would like to participate in a book swap and perhaps make a new friend in the process then this is right up your alley!

Here are the details:
Sign-ups close on August 24 so don't wait!
You send 3 books and receive 3 books. They should be:

a book off their wishlist

a book you've read and loved

a book you haven't read but think they will enjoy

Once you've filled out the form and been accepted (you'll receive an email from the lovely ladies of Chaotic Goddess Swaps) you'll blog about the swap and link up. Easy as that! Once you've received your goodies you'll blog about it and link up again.

Thursday, August 20, 2015

After reading the first book in the Wild at Heart series by Mary Connealy I knew that I wanted to read the second one especially since I felt like Shannon would be my favorite Wilde sister. The book starts out so quickly that it was easy to get swept into the book. It felt like just a few moments had gone by and I was already through 100 pages. As with the first book in the series, the story is centered around one of the Wilde sisters and there's usually some sort of trouble that they get themselves into. I was a bit shocked when this book started with Shannon and Matthew Tucker getting married after their harrowing experience of surviving a bear, the river that's notorious for killing people, and an arduous hike through caves with Matthew on a broken leg before being rescued. For this to have the feel of a romance there's a lot of suspense and action as well. In many ways the romance almost takes a backseat when you're reading it because you find yourself so wrapped up in trying to figure out who is trying to drive homesteaders off their land.

Now I just have to wait patiently for the third book so I can read Bailey's story!

I received this book free of charge from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

The sixth and final book of The Journey of the Heart series is finally here! What a wonderful conclusion to the series with adventure, heartbreak, love, joy, and sorrow all rolled into one. From the moment I began reading this series six months ago I hoped that the ending wouldn't be abrupt and that we as readers would have a glimpse into the future of all the characters I feel I now know. Colleen Coble certainly didn't disappoint with this! Without giving away anything that happens with any of the characters I can say that we are given a glimpse into everyone's lives and I felt ready to say goodbye when I read the final words of the A Heart's Home. In a way each person follows their own heart and finds their home is more who they are with rather than where they are.

Book info

About the book:A Heart's Home (Thomas Nelson, August 2015)Emmie's hope for a life with Isaac is overshadowed by a tragic loss at Fort Phil Kearny.

Isaac
Liddle is keen to marry Emmie, and she knows she shouldn't hide her
pregnancy from him any longer. But before she can tell him her secret, a
widower friend asks the impossible of Emmie: Will she honor her promise
to his dead wife by marrying him to care for the orphaned baby?

With
the Sioux Wars threatening outside the fort, Emmie's solemn vow
threatens her happiness from within. Will she honor a promise sure to
break her heart---and Isaac's? Or is there another way to find a home
for her heart?

Colleen Coble has sold over 2 million novels worldwide. Seagrass Pier,
the third installment in her acclaimed Hope Beach series, marks a new
highpoint for emotion and complexity in Coble's addictive brand of
romantic suspense.

A hidden pregnancy, a promise sure to break hearts, and a tragic loss at Fort Phil Kearny: Don't miss the gripping conclusion in book six, A Heart's Home, of Colleen Coble's A Journey of the Heart series. With the Sioux Wars threatening outside the fort, Emmie’s solemn vow threatens her happiness from within. Will she honor a promise sure to break her heart—and Isaac’s? Or is there another way to find a home for her heart?

Colleen is celebrating the final book release of her A Journey of the Heart series by giving away the entire series and the chance to host Colleen virtually at your book club, local library, or women's group to talk about the series.

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Picking a favorite Sarah Sundin book is near impossible but this one may be her best one yet! It was so easy to feel drawn to Mary and her kind, gentle spirit and her love for Nancy Drew made her even more likable to me since Nancy Drew fostered my love for reading. I can't wait to see what Sarah Sundin has in store for us in the next book in her Waves of Freedom series!

Through Waters Deep centers around Mary and Jim, who actually knew each from high school in Ohio. Now Mary is a Boston Navy Yard secretary and Jim is a naval officer on board the brand-new destroyer the USS Atwood. Their blossoming friendship and his willingness to aid in her "investigation" made the pages fly by. Not to mention that the further into the story I delved the more anxious I became to find out who was behind it all. In typical Sarah Sundin fashion she wrapped up a bit of mystery and a sweet romance into the perfect package!

Book info

About the book:Through Waters Deep (Revell, August 2015)

It is 1941 and America teeters on the brink of war.

Outgoing
naval officer Ensign Jim Avery escorts British convoys across the North
Atlantic in a brand-new destroyer, the USS Atwood. Back on shore,
Boston Navy Yard secretary Mary Stirling does her work quietly and
efficiently, happy to be out of the limelight. Yet, despite her reserved
nature, she never could back down from a challenge. When evidence of
sabotage on the Atwood is found, Jim and Mary must work together to
uncover the culprit. A bewildering maze of suspects emerges, and Mary is
dismayed to find that even someone close to her is under suspicion.
With the increasing pressure, Jim and Mary find that many new
challenges---and dangers---await them.

Sarah Sundin takes readers
to the tense months before the US entered WWII. Readers will encounter
German U-boats and torpedoes, along with the explosive power of true
love, in this hopeful and romantic story.

Sarah Sundin is the author of With Every Letter, On Distant Shores, In Perfect Time, and the Wings of Glory series. In 2014, On Distant Shores
was a finalist for the Golden Scroll Awards from both AWSA and the
Christian Authors Network. In 2011, Sarah received the Writer of the
Year Award at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. A graduate
of UC San Francisco School of Pharmacy, she works on call as a hospital
pharmacist. During WWII, her grandfather served as a pharmacist's mate
(medic) in the Navy and her great-uncle flew with the US Eighth Air
Force in England. Sarah lives in California with her husband and three
children.

Dive into Sarah Sundin's explosive new series, Waves of Freedom, with book one, Through Waters Deep. When evidence of sabotage on the Atwood is found, Jim and Mary must work together to uncover the culprit. A bewildering maze of suspects emerges, and Mary is dismayed to find that even someone close to her is under suspicion. With the increasing pressure, Jim and Mary find that many new challenges–and dangers–await them in the midst of their budding romance.

Join Sarah in celebrating the release of Through Waters Deep by entering to win an Anchors Aweigh prize pack!

One grand prize winner will receive:

A copy of Through Waters Deep

A nautical tote bag

A set of compass rose notecards

A "Hope Anchors the Soul" journal

A Boston Tea Party earl grey tea set

A Through Waters Deep apron

A set of nautical tea towels

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on August 24th. The winner will be announced August 25th on Sarah's blog.

I received this book free of charge from Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my honest review.

About Me

Suz: Loves running, watching sports and her favorite shows, taking pictures, catching up with friends and family, and talking to people about cows!
Allan: Loves all sports especially wrestling and soccer. He wrestled in college at Auburn and is helping coach at a local high school. Allan currently plays forward for a local soccer team.
This is us-upfront, honest, and mostly from Suz's point of view.